152 THE SEA-MOUSE. 



ment that water deposits. But it is in the clothing 

 of long silky hair which covers each side, and which 

 reflects the most brilliant and refulgent hues, equal- 

 ling the splendours of the Humming-birds, or the 

 Diamond beetles. Hence Lamarck gave it the appel- 

 lation of Halithea, or Sea-goddess ; and Linnaeus 

 before him had conferred on it the name of the croddess 

 of beauty, Aphrodite^ the Greek title of Yenus. The 

 great master of Natm-al History thus expresses his 

 admiration of this sea-worm : " The Aplirodite acide- 

 ata, reflecting the sun-beams from the depths of the 

 sea, exhibits as vivid colours as the peacock itself, 

 spreading its jew^elled train." 



In the Aquarium, the Sea-mouse crawls restlessly 

 to and fro, and round the margin of the bottom ; 

 once or twice I have seen it essay to burrow under 

 the fine gi-avel, but generally it lives exposed. It is 

 uninteresting in its manners, though the brilliance of 

 its changing colours will always attract admiration. 

 Perhaps it is most beautiful by candle-light, when 

 red and orange reflections predominate ; by day, pearly 

 greens and blues prevail. This difference is owing to 

 the position of the light, and the angle at which it is 

 reflected. Thus, if the eye glance along the bristles 

 towards the light, which is reflected at an obtuse 

 angle, the reflected rays will be lilac, passing into 

 ultramarine ; if the angle of reflection be a right 

 angle, the rays will be green ; if the light be between 

 the observer and the animal (not directly but ob- 

 liquely, so as to make the angle of reflection more or 

 less acute), the reflections will take yellow, orange, 

 scarlet, and crimson hues. 



